Some of you know we have been having some major issues with our rabbit litters. This is our first time trying in the winter, and I think it will be the last. Everyone told me it was "easier on the does" well it might be, but I don't think so, and I don't think it is easier on me either!
Today I found the 7 kits I left with my Mini lop doe Ninja dead, They where curled up in the nestbox like usual, it even looked like she had added more hair, but they where all cold and dead. They where born on Saturday the 21st, and had finally gotten some fur and started looking like baby bunnies. She had 11 to start with, I should of removed a few the first day and fostered them to someone else, but my mini rex had three peanuts I was waiting to die, then my other mini lop flipped her nest and I lost a baby and had to bring the rest inside where I now have to take her to them twice a day to feed them. So on thursday I pulled four of Ninja's babies, they where obviously not geting enough to eat (she is not the best milk producer with her usual 7-8, much less for 11!). I gave three of them to the Mini rex doe, who had one kit of her own (only one not a peanut in the litter) and one of the other Mini lop doe's (Eva). I then put one more in with the ones Eva is feeding. So she had 7, Ninja had 7 and Jane (MR) had 5. I went out and checked the rabbits at 10 last night and the kits where warm and alive. When I went out to do chores around 10:30 this morning they where dead and cold.
So sad. Wish I would of pulled them all in. But that would of been to many for either of those does, and my husband would of killed me if I had brought another rabbit inside. With two does in here now, and two litters of babies. I wish I would of put a couple more with my satin doe, but I don't even know how many she has (I just put my hand in every day to make sure all are alive and warm, I know there are quite a few though). I know these things happen, I just hate it.
Seven cute little bunnies died and I could of done something to prevent it. Nope no more winter litters for me. Unless I get a heated barn.
Sorry this is so long, thanks for listening!
Melissa
Today I found the 7 kits I left with my Mini lop doe Ninja dead, They where curled up in the nestbox like usual, it even looked like she had added more hair, but they where all cold and dead. They where born on Saturday the 21st, and had finally gotten some fur and started looking like baby bunnies. She had 11 to start with, I should of removed a few the first day and fostered them to someone else, but my mini rex had three peanuts I was waiting to die, then my other mini lop flipped her nest and I lost a baby and had to bring the rest inside where I now have to take her to them twice a day to feed them. So on thursday I pulled four of Ninja's babies, they where obviously not geting enough to eat (she is not the best milk producer with her usual 7-8, much less for 11!). I gave three of them to the Mini rex doe, who had one kit of her own (only one not a peanut in the litter) and one of the other Mini lop doe's (Eva). I then put one more in with the ones Eva is feeding. So she had 7, Ninja had 7 and Jane (MR) had 5. I went out and checked the rabbits at 10 last night and the kits where warm and alive. When I went out to do chores around 10:30 this morning they where dead and cold.
So sad. Wish I would of pulled them all in. But that would of been to many for either of those does, and my husband would of killed me if I had brought another rabbit inside. With two does in here now, and two litters of babies. I wish I would of put a couple more with my satin doe, but I don't even know how many she has (I just put my hand in every day to make sure all are alive and warm, I know there are quite a few though). I know these things happen, I just hate it.
Seven cute little bunnies died and I could of done something to prevent it. Nope no more winter litters for me. Unless I get a heated barn.
Sorry this is so long, thanks for listening!
Melissa